Researchers from the UBC Okanagan School of Engineering, in collaboration with Drexel University, have developed a new compound that can be used to 3D print telecommunications antennas and other connectivity devices.
This novel material, a combination of a two-dimensional composite called MXene and a polymer, promises to be a high-performance alternative to metallic counterparts and could revolutionize telecommunications technology, particularly in the areas of antennas, waveguides and filters.
Dr. Mohammad Zarifi, a researcher in the Microelectronics and Gigahertz Applications (OMEGA) lab at UBC Okanagan, pointed out: “In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, waveguides — a foundation in devices we use daily — are undergoing a transformative shift. From the familiar hum of microwave ovens to the vast reach of satellite communication, these integral components have traditionally been made from metals like silver, brass and copper.”
MXene, a family of two-dimensional materials, is particularly characterized by its electrical conductivity.
Dr. Yury Gogotsi, Director of the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute, describes: “Think of MXenes as nanometre-thin conductive flakes that can be dispersed in water-like clay. This is a material that can be applied from dispersion in pure water with no additives to almost any surface. After drying in air, it can make polymer surfaces conductive. It’s like metallization at room temperature, without melting or evaporating a metal, without vacuum or temperature.”
The integration of MXene into 3D-printed nylon components enables more efficient microwave guidance to specific frequency bands. Omid Niksan, PhD student at the UBC Okanagan School of Engineering and first author of the study, sees great potential in the aerospace and satellite industries for these lightweight, additively manufactured components. They could replace traditional manufacturing processes, such as metalworking for channel structures.
“Whether in space-based communication devices or medical imaging equipment like MRI machines, these lightweight MXene-coated polymeric structures have the potential to replace traditional manufacturing methods such as metal machining for creating channel structures,” he added.
The researchers have already filed a provisional patent for the polymer-based MXene-coated communication components. Zarifi is optimistic about the future prospects of this technology, particularly in the field of 3D-printed antennas and communication devices in space.
“While there is still additional research to be done, we’re excited about the potential of this innovative material,” said Zafiri. “We aim to explore and develop the possibilities of 3D printed antennas and communication devices in space. By reducing payloads of shuttle transporters, it gives engineers more options.”
This research, supported by the Department of National Defense, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the United States National Science Foundation, was published in the latest issue of the journal Materials Today and represents a significant advance in the application of 3D printing technologies.
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